By Cameron Lee
May 28, 2025
Photo: Alex Free
Charlotte lyricist Mavi returns with his first release of the year, reuniting with Earl Sweatshirt of Odd Future notoriety for the introspective new single, “Landgrab.” Accompanied by a raw, tightly framed video shot at The Pit LA and directed by Jesse Fox Hallen, the track is brief but weighty — an elliptical exchange of bars steeped in childhood recollections, cultural folklore, and esoteric nods ranging from folk hero John Henry to former NBA center Michael Olowokandi.
Produced by Hollywood Cole, the Atlanta beatmaker known for his textured, sample-rich sound — most notably on Lil Wayne and Drake’s “B.B. King Freestyle” — “Landgrab” is the pair’s first collaboration since 2020’s “El Toro Combo Meal,” the Ovrkast.-produced standout from Earl’s Feet of Clay EP.
Mavi, who first made waves with his acclaimed 2019 debut Let the Sun Talk, has steadily carved a lane rooted in philosophical lyricism, lo-fi production, and ruminations on Black identity, spirituality, and the weight of personal growth. His 2021 EP End of the Earth and the deeply reflective 2022 follow-up Laughing so Hard, it Hurts only heightened that arc. Last year’s Shadowbox, landed at No. 4 on Rolling Stone’s Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2024 list, further cementing his position as one of hip-hop’s most poetic voices.
On “Landgrab,” Mavi signals a shift — toward more joy, more collaboration, and a new phase of artistic self-assurance.
“Earl was the first person to bring me out in a collaborative way,” Mavi told Pitchfork. “So it feels like, as I’m entering this new paradigm, I want him to accompany me through that door as he did before.”
“My first few projects served as something like the preface to my story of me entering young adulthood and this industry, learning my powers in terms of rap, art, and business,” he added. “Now, I’m manipulating the forces in a different way, having a lot more fun, with a lot more collaboration coming soon.”
Listen to “Landgrab” by Mavi and Earl Sweatshirt produced by Hollywood Cole, and watch the official music video directed by Jesse Fox Hallen.
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